Langdon Tactical’s .32 ACP Beretta 80x

LTT’s introduces a custom spin on Beretta’s soft-shooting classic, the .32 ACP Beretta 80x

by Frank Melloni

Introduced in 1976, the Beretta Model 84 quickly became the gold standard for concealed-carry pistols. Utilizing the company’s signature shape and style, this compact .380 ACP instantly drew attention within the gun case, as it offered the perfect blend of style and reliability. Of course, all good things must end, and the pistol was discontinued in 2017.

It was only six years later that it would be reborn as the 80x Cheetah, reviving the package with modern ergonomics and an updated set of features. Released at the 2023 NSSF SHOT Show, the company also promised us a .32 ACP version, but alas, this promise seemingly faded into the ether. I write “seemingly” because the now 500-year-old entity did, indeed, deliver — albeit three years later. To that end, supply was abundant enough to send a batch out for customization, and who better to tweak a Beretta than Ernest Langdon and the team at Langdon Tactical Technology?

Making Good Guns Great For Decades

If you haven’t had the opportunity to work with an LTT customized gun, you are missing out on some of the best firearms on the market. The company, relaunched in 2016, is built on over 30 years of experience, with much of its work revolving around Beretta pistols.

Many of their processes are widely known, but likely none better than the Langdon Tactical Trigger Job. Through scrupulous tuning and hand polishing, there are few, if any, double-action/single-action bang switches that can rival their work. Coupled with the gunsmith dehorning process known as “Carry Beveling,” an LTT everyday-carry pistol can quickly become your practice and match gun.

The Top Two

Every LTT 80x comes with at least a trigger job, but the entire line is affectionately referred to as “The Carry Bevel,” as it’s hard to pass up on that option when you’ve already decided to purchase one of these custom masterpieces. To that end, let’s focus on these two improvements.

When a pistol receiving a trigger job arrives at LTT’s doors, it is first completely disassembled and cleaned of any oils or preservatives it shipped with. Next, the engagement surfaces of all the trigger components are stoned to reduce pull weight and polished to eliminate any grit — both in the figurative and literal sense. In this series, all components are finished with NP3, which is an electroless nickel plating that leaves a hardened exterior with inherent self-lubricating properties. In other words, it just gets better over time.

The Carry Bevel process is one that is designed to make the gun feel better on the waistline as well as in the hand when firing. Sharp edges are removed by a competent gunsmith and replaced with a gentle radius that’s easier on the skin. We will see this best on and below the beavertail, as well as along the slide and trigger guard. The magwell is also beveled inside and out. This helps to facilitate reloads while erasing the final digging points on the handgun, respectively.

Naturally, this work makes refinishing necessary, so instead of repairing it back to OEM standards, Langdon Tactical takes it a step further. If you choose one of the plain black models, the frame will be Cerakoted while the slide receives a black nitride finish. There’s also the option of a bronze-finished frame if you’d like to add a little flair.

Straight or Twisted

The .32 ACP cartridge deserves a closer look, especially when you consider all the advancements the firearms industry has seen since its inception in 1899. Built for pocket pistols, it doesn’t need a long pipe to reach its peak velocity. Additionally, this velocity is nearly always below the sound barrier, so it suppresses exquisitely. LTT, therefore, offers its 80x with either a threaded 4.4-inch barrel or the factory Inox-coated 3.9-inch option.

I went with the former, as I wanted to work a Silencer Central Banish 9k suppressor into this piece. At just 2.7 ounces, it boasts piston-less functionality but being that the 80x is a straight blowback pistol, it already doesn’t need one. This would make for a perfect home defense package, particularly if you are noise- and recoil-shy. As a bonus, you’ll still be able to hear afterward should you ever need to use it.

Topped with a Cherry

One of the modern advancements of the 80x is the ability to now take a red dot — something that wasn’t a concern in 1976. Langdon Tactical understands that the factory interchangeable plate system was a big hit and didn’t want to completely eliminate it from the catalog. Yet they also realized that it could be taken a step further. Adding a plate adds another set of hardware — hardware that can fail. This also raises the optic, slightly, changing your presentation if you want to see it as fast as your iron sights. Beretta’s iconic shape, though, precludes direct milling for all optical footprints except one: Holosun’s K. By machining the slide just right, LTT found a way to directly mount the EPS Carry, resulting in more natural pointing and a reduced likelihood of screws coming loose.

While temping, I knew that I was going to need some height to clear the suppressor. I also had one of Riton’s new 3 Tactix MPRD XL dots on my bench, which would make a good fit for this setup. It blends an RMR-sized window with the compact RMSc footprint, making it a good fit for smaller guns without sacrificing field of view. So, although intriguing, I took the factory option for this test.

Ammo is Better Today, Too

If you think 50 years has been good for pistol development, consider what over 100 years have done for ammo. Today, we’ve figured out ways to make hollow points expand, even when applied at slow speeds. Federal’s Hydra-Shok Deep is a terrific example, as it employs a thinned, almost crimped jacket and center post to ensure performance.

Hornady’s Critical Defense is also designed to work in sub-optimal conditions, and it does so with its elastomer-plugged FTX bullets. These resist clogging and roll away when they meet a liquid medium.

As well-thought-out as these designs are, though, I must hand it to Underwood for its use of the Xtreme Defender bullet in its load. Instead of using expansion as the vehicle to transfer energy, it uses a fluted profile that displaces liquid. This trio would give me a unique mix of bullet styles and weights for testing, which is what I set out to do the moment I stuffed them into my range bag.

Bang Time

I began my testing by zeroing the optic off a sandbag rest, which revealed precisely what you pay for with an LTT trigger job. Stopping to measure it with a Lyman gauge, the double-action broke at a repeatable 5 lbs., 14 oz., with the single-action-only needing 4 lbs. 7 oz. Both modes were remarkably smooth, taking the same amount of pressure from start to finish. It’s worth mentioning that the frame-mounted decocker is not a true safety, as you cannot carry “cocked and locked.” It will, though, disconnect the trigger when left in the up position. It is also ambidextrous for the southpaws.

After printing my first five-shot group, I suspected that my 15-yard test distance wasn’t enough to challenge this pistol. So, nearly every group across all three ammo types measured less than two inches, with the best going to the Federal Hydra-Shok’s at a scant .851 inches.

Sliding over to the steel pit, I got to use the gun in a manner more aligned with its purpose. Starting with double-action, I punched out and knocked off a few magazines’ worth of controlled pairs. The recoil was paltry, which is one of .32 ACP’s greatest benefits — so much so that I found myself blowing through magazines that I seemingly just inserted. On the same note, transitions were equally blinding, as the gun didn’t need a lot of time to settle, and the large lens of the Riton optic makes the dot easier to track.

15-Yard Accuracy Test (ave. of five, 5-shot groups)

Federal Hydra-Shok Deep 68-grain JHP: 1.23 in.
Hornady Critical Defense 60-grain FTX: 1.31 in.
Underwood Xtreme Defender 55-grain XD: 1.72 in.

Wrapping It Up

The LTT 80x met my expectations and was a load of fun on the range. It felt meticulously built, and shot as such, too. Furthermore, it is far less than you might expect to pay for a gunsmith-tuned firearm. Models with just the trigger job are available for $755, with the one tested for this article costing just $1255. Overall, I am ecstatic to see this .32 ACP version finally hit the market and, moreover, it was a pleasure to work with one that has been tuned by one of the most renowned custom shops in our industry.

What I Like

The trigger job was phenomenal. If you aren’t a fan of DA/SA, Langdon Tactical will make you a believer.

What I Don’t Like

For a sub-caliber, 12+1 isn’t a whole lot of ammo, especially in a pistol this size.

What I Would Change

I’d love to see a revision take the modern stack-and-a-half magazine approach, even if it means modifying the grip. This would keep the size while bumping capacity.

Beretta 80x .32 ACP by LTT Specifications